Passive Bistatic Radar for Non-Cooperative Aircraft Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision avoidance systems in the National Airspace System require cooperative traffic, where aircraft must broadcast their location, but in 95% of airspace below 10,000 feet, there is no requirement for transponders or ADS-B devices, making it challenging for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and manned aircraft to avoid collisions with non-broadcasting aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A passive bistatic radar system that uses ambient transmitters like FM radio, HDTV, cellular phone, and GPS signals to detect and estimate the location of other aircraft by receiving direct and reflected signals, allowing for collision avoidance without the need for transponders or ADS-B devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive bistatic radar uses ambient transmitters to detect non-broadcasting aircraft, then collision avoidance capability in non-cooperative traffic is improved, but system complexity increases due to signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ambient transmitters (FM radio, HDTV, cellular, GPS) as intermediary sources to provide broadcast signals that enable detection of non-cooperative aircraft. These transmitters serve as mediators between the detection system and target aircraft, allowing the radar to function without requiring transponders or ADS-B devices on the target aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits existing infrastructure (ambient transmitters already present in the environment) to provide the broadcast signals needed for detection. Rather than requiring dedicated radar transmitters or cooperative transponders on target aircraft, the system self-services by utilizing signals that are already being transmitted for other purposes (radio, television, cellular, GPS).
2Measurement precision
If the system receives both direct and reflected signals to estimate object location, then detection accuracy is improved, but signal discrimination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the received signal into distinct components: direct signals from ambient transmitters and reflected signals from target aircraft. By separating and independently processing these signal components, the system can extract location information from the reflected signals while using the direct signals as reference, thereby improving detection accuracy without being overwhelmed by the complexity of mixed signals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective collision avoidance by estimating the location and velocity of other aircraft using ambient transmitters, allowing for evasive maneuvers even when other aircraft are not broadcasting their location, thereby enhancing safety in non-cooperative traffic environments.
Implementation Method 1
a reflection signal comprising a reflection of the broadcast signal reflected off an object
Data Source
AI summary
A system and methods for onboard sense and avoidance of an object are disclosed. At least one transmitter and at least one transmitter location of the at least one transmitter are selected from a database of transmitters based on a vehicle location of a vehicle, and at least one total signal is received at the vehicle. The at least one total signal comprises a direct signal of at least one broadcast signal from the at least one transmitter, and a reflection signal comprising a reflection of the broadcast signal reflected off an object. An estimated object location of the object is estimated based on the at least one total signal, the at least one transmitter location, and the vehicle location.